An Akwa Ibom High Court sitting in Uyo has adjourned to April I,2021, the case against Prof IGNATIUS UDUK brought by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Akwa Ibom state.

The adjournment was in response to a verbal application by the defence counsel for an adjournment to enable him to present his argument for his objection to the substitution of INEC ‘s former counsel with a new one.

Prof Ignatius Uduk of the University of Uyo, who was the Collation and Returning Officer in the Essien Udim state constituency election, was arraigned before a state high court in Uyo presided over by Justice Archibong Archibong on a three-count charge of; Abandoning his assigned duties as the Collation and Returning officer of the State House of Assembly election and unlawfully generating scores and entering same in form EC 8E(II) thereby committing an offence punishable under section 122 subsection 1 of the electoral act 2010 as amended.

Prof Uduk was also charged for announcing and circulating false and fake election results contrary to and punishable under section 123 subsection 4 of the electoral act 2010 as amended.

He was also charged for perjury, lying on oath, contrary to section 119 subsection 1 of the criminal code law, laws of Akwa Ibom State 2000.

When the matter came up before the trial judge, counsel to the accused, Abasiodiong Ekpenyong Esq raised objection against the appearance of a new counsel for INEC in place of the former Prosecution counsel.

But the new prosecution counsel, Clement Onwenwnor cited several portions of the law to justify his appearance.

The defence counsel subsequently applied for an adjournment to enable him to present his argument to support his rejection of the new prosecution counsel.

The presiding judge, Justice Archibong Archibong adjourned the case to April I,2021 to enable the defense counsel to respond to the prosecuting counsel’s argument on point of law.